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Best of April: Our Favorite (Virtual) Happenings This Month

We really appreciate you doing your part to help social distance during this crazy time. While we’re still not able to be around each other for a fun time, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a fun time together virtually. Our Best of April roundup looks just a little bit different this month because all of these events are things you can enjoy from the comfort of your home! Here are our favorite virtual April events.

Enzian On Demand: Livestream Movies
Support Enzian while streaming movies from home! For around $12 or less, the film’s distributor will grant you access to the film, which is viewable on any internet-connected device including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. A portion of your ticket goes directly back to the theater. If you have the appropriate technology (Chromecast, Amazon Firestick, AirPlay, Apple TV, Smart TV, etc), you may be able to stream this to your television at home from your computer or phone. This link will give you access to the film for a limited period after you hit play. The movies offered are as follows:

Acting 101 – Monologues: April 2 at 10am; $5 minimum / pay what you can

Where to Start – A Conversation about Writing for the Theatre with Donald Rupe: April 3 at 10am; $5 minimum / pay what you can

Koncert for the Koi
Thursday, April 2, 3pm
Join the team at Bok Tower Gardens for a virtual concert experience featuring a performance by Geert D’hollander and the magnificent koi fish. This “koncert” will be live-streamed via their Facebook page.

This content is proudly supported by Orange County Library System (OCLS). Learn how to social distance and still use your library here!

Virtual Star Parties and Shows
The Emil Buehler Planetarium is hosting a number of events virtually via Facebook live and they’re totally free! The schedule is as follows:

Virtual Public Show: Central Florida Nights: Thursday, April 2, 7pm
Join planetarium director Derek Demeter as he takes you on a tour of the night sky from the comfort of your own home. Explore the constellations of the current night sky and go outside to see these very same constellations in the night sky from your own backyard.

Virtual Star Party Episode II: Friday, April 3, 9m
Enjoy a remote telescope experience as the cosmos come to you in the comfort of your own home.

Virtual Public Show: Port of Call: Mars: Thursday, April 9, 7pm
Come along a virtual trip to the red planet Mars from the comfort of your own home! Tour guides Derek Demeter and Ken Brandt will whisk you along the amazing sites found on the planet.

Virtual Public Show: Earth’s Neighborhood: Thursday, April 16, 7pm
Come along for a virtual guided tour of the inhabitants of the solar system, featuring the sun, eight major planets, asteroid belt and dwarf planets (like Pluto), as well as the innumerable objects that orbit around the sun from billions of miles away. Your journey is guaranteed to be the most exhilarating 5-billion-mile trip you’ll ever take!

Virtual Star Party Episode IV – Florida Planetariums: Friday, April 17, 9pm
Enjoy a free remote telescope experience from the comfort of your own home! They will be focusing the telescope on the planets in our Solar System and night sky tours of the visible constellations! We will have live telescope views of Venus and Comet ATLAS (weather permitting).

80s Music Trivia
Thursday, April 2, 7pm
Think Tank Trivia will host a special Facebook Live trivia with prizes for winners.

Orlando Makers Online
April 4 – 5
Support local and shop virtually from over 50 Central Florida vendors featuring their handmade goods with special offers exclusive to you. This online Farmer’s Market begins Saturday at 9am and continues through Sunday at 8pm.

Creative Isolations: The American Artists Project performance
Monday, April 6, 8pm
In partnership with Orlando Story Club and the Downtown Arts District, a group of graduate students from UCF have gathered stories about how artists’ lives have been altered by COVID-19 and selected artists to create original works based on those stories. During this live online performance, the artists will share their creations spanning from painters, actors, designers, singers, sand sculptors, composers, leather artists, and more. The performance is free but donations are accepted during the event via PayPal. Visit the event page for details and a link to the streaming page.

The Foreigner Domestic
Every Friday; upcoming dates: April 10, 17, 24
The Foreigner Domestic is your very own meal kit, coupled with a sommelier paired bottle of wine and a virtual class video led by Chef Bruno Fonseca that teaches you to cook the meal. Everything is delivered straight to your doorstep and each ticket is a meal for 2. You will also be invited to participate in a “break bread session” on Saturday evening, virtually. All of the people that purchase this kit can join the virtual meeting where you’ll discuss topics about your meal, wine, and cooking process. Orders must be placed by Wednesday each week for delivery on Friday by 6pm.
$75/couple

Image credit: The Foreigner Experience

Cornell Fine Arts Museum 2020 Senior Student Virtual Exhibition
April 10 – May 17, 2020
Livestream artist talks on April 21 and 23, 5:30-6:30pm
The Cornell Fine Arts Museum, in collaboration with the Department of Art and Art History at Rollins College, is pleased to present Frame of Reference, an exhibition debuting the work of five senior Studio Art majors from the class of 2020.

2020 Wine, Women & Shoes
April 13 – 18
Virtual “attendees” will still have the chance to bid on items in the silent auction, and one lucky participant will win a dream closet of designer handbags, accessories, clothing, household goods and more, as part of the event’s signature “Key to the Closet” drawing.

Orlando Museum of Art 1st Thursdays Online: Artist’s Choice
Thursdays April 16 – 30, 6-9pm
“Orlando’s original art party” NOW ONLINE. From 6-9 pm, each Thursday for the rest of April, discover Central Florida artists, listen to a specially-curated playlist and mingle online with an eclectic mix of people. Imbibe responsibly at home, and order takeout from your fav local food biz. Use hashtag #ThursdaysOnline and visit the 1st Thursdays Instagram page to cast your vote for the People’s choice award! There will be three rounds of 16 artists culminating in a final round on April 30.

Orlando Makers Online 6th Edition
April 18 – 19
Support local and shop virtually from over 60 Central Florida vendors featuring their handmade goods with special offers exclusive to you. This online Farmer’s Market begins Saturday at 9am and continues through Sunday at 8pm.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Virtual Tastings
ABC is hosting a series of virtual tastings where you can interact with winemakers, distillers and leaders in the industry via Zoom seminars. Limited to 100 participants each. Scheduled tastings are as follows:

Catena Wines: Wednesday, April 22, 6pm
Join Dr. Laura Catena, founder of the Catena Institute of Wine in Argentina and current director of Bodega Catena Zapata through a virtual wine tasting. Sample Catena Malbec La Consulta and Catena Mendoza Malbec, learn how the Mendoza terroir affects these exquisite wines and and ask the expert any wine question from the comfort of your home.

Bardstown Bourbon: Thursday, April 23, 6pm
Join 40-year industry expert and Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Master Distiller, Steve Nally for a virtual sampling and sip on Bardstown Bourbon. Enjoy a virtual tour of Bardstown Distillery, learn about the brand’s history, the business side of bourbon and how Bardstown has implemented their leading experts and specialist to create a high-quality bourbon.

Imagery Wines: Friday, April 24, 6pm
Join Best 2019 Woman Winemaker in the International Women’s Wine Competition and one of Wine Enthusiasts 40 under 40 Tastemakers, Jamie Benziger and biodynamic farming and sales expert, Chris Benziger, from Imagery Wines. Sample Imagery Cabernet Sauvignon, Imagery Pinot Noir, Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon and Benziger Chardonnay while learning about sustainable farming, family history and the difference between two Cabs.

Fernet Branca: Monday, April 27, 5pm
Join Global Brand Ambassador and industry expert, Nicola Olianas as he demonstrates how to make the perfect Fernet Collins.

Tozai Sake: Wednesday, April 29, 6pm
Join sake specialist and sommelier, Jesse Browner and venture out in the world of sake. Learn how to pair your food with sake and the 1,000 ways to drink it!

Four Roses Bourbon: Thursday, April 30, 6pm
Join Kathleen Moreno as she discusses the history of Four Roses Bourbon and demonstrates how to make over 10 easy bourbon cocktail recipes, including a Black Manhattan.

Pop-Up Food Bazaar at Enzian Theater
Thursday, April 30, 5-7pm
Enzian Theater is partnering with 4Rivers, Agave Azul, and Ravenous Pig to bring you an Enzian date night you can enjoy at home with your significant other, or even the whole family! The pop-up Food Bazaar will take place from 5 to 7 pm, and all three restaurants will be taking advanced food orders for drive thru-pick up at The Enzian this Thursday. Each restaurant will offer a two-person meal for $30 and a four-person meal for $60, with additional add-on offerings available. Find more details on how to pre-order and all the menus here.

Image credit: Agave Azul

Virtual Supper Club
Thursday, April 30
Scott Joseph is partnering with Soco Thornton Park for a virtual supper club. Soco chef/partner Greg Richie will prepare the three-course dinner for pickup which will include instructions for reheating the main course – the appetizer and dessert will be room temperature. Also included in the package will be two bottles of wine chosen to pair with the courses.
$85/person, $130/couple

1st Thursdays: Artist’s Choice – Now Online!
Thursday, April 30, 6-9pm
From 6-9 pm, each Thursday for the rest of April, everyone out there has the opportunity to discover Central Florida artists, listen to a specially-curated playlist and mingle online with an eclectic mix of people. Head over to the 1st Thursday’s Instagram page, @orlandomuseumofartevents to cast your vote for the People’s choice award! There will be three rounds of 16 artists culminating in a final round on April 30. Playlist is available here.
FREE

ONGOING EVENTS

OSC At Home
The Orlando Science Center has a fun lineup of resources for making your time at home extra fun including cool science experiments to conduct with household items, videos and educational resources. We especially love the DIY rock candy project!

Image credit: Orlando Science Center

TPD Takeout Thursdays
Every Thursday
Join the community in supporting the Thornton Park District’s local restaurants by ordering take-out! Most also give you the opportunity to purchase beer, wine or a cocktail.

The Tasty Trio Virtual Wine, Cheese and Chocolate
Join the Tasty Trio for a new VIRTUAL Wine, Cheese and Chocolate online class with pairings available at Quantum Leap Winery, La Femme du Fromage and Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park. Stay tuned for a future virtual guided class including pre-order for curbside pickup or delivery.

The Zoo Comes To You
Weekdays at 2pm
Learn about the Central Florida Zoo, the different animals that live there as well as see how the animals are trained via Facebook live videos that will air every weekday at 2pm.

Image credit: Central Florida Zoo

School of Croc
Learn interesting information about alligators and other animals that you can visit at Gatorland once things return to normal via Gatorland’s new daily videos. Additionally, you can watch past streams.

#MuseumFromHome with OMA
Orlando Museum of Art
Head to the Orlando Museum of Art’s Facebook page to see exhibits, as well as educational and engaging videos that will get you through any stay-at-home order or social distancing initiative! Access is completely free.

Curtis Earth Trivia
See Facebook page for schedule
You can still get your trivia on while social distancing thanks to Curtis Earth Trivia’s Facebook Live! There are games transmitted live every few days that are free to partake in, and you could even win a prize courtesy of Bikes, Beans, and Bordeaux Cafe in Audubon Park. Keep an eye on Curtis Earth Trivia’s Facebook page for upcoming trivia times. Trivia is free, but donations are accepted.

Image credit: Curtis Earth Trivia

Virtual Yoga Classes
Yogamix Orlando has a schedule full of virtual yoga classes that happen daily, all available via livestream. By signing up, you are entitled to unlimited access to their virtual classes for one month.
$19.99/month

Cooking with Vinnie, LIVE!
Sundays at 5pm
Each Monday, the ingredients for Sunday’s recipe will be posted on Facebook so you have time to grab the ingredients. The recipes are meant to be quick and easy to make. Tune in on April 12th for an Easter themed dinner with pork tenderloin, roasted veggies, and creamy green beans w/ mushrooms.

TEG Unlocked: The Heist – Vol. 1: Chasing Hahn
Your mission? Stop suspected art thief Vincent Hahn before another masterpiece goes missing! This is the FULLY digital version of the at-home adventure, Unlocked: The Heist – Vol. 1: Chasing Hahn. They took all of the pieces in the original mission kit that were sent out physically and made them digital so that you could play right away!
$10

Beginner Hip Hop Choreo Virtual Class
Mondays at 7pm
Join this fun beginner’s hip hop choreo class offered by DGBEK on Mondays for just $5. You’ll be sent a Zoom link to join the class and will receive instruction and fun feedback throughout.